RayB615

Q: iDVD no longer burns, El Capitan

2015 - Retina iMac 16gb ram etc....

 

I am a professional wedding photographer and for years I have been producing and successfully burning dvd slideshows for customers using iDVD.

 

I know it has been discontinued but I cannot find anything as simple to use that produces such good results.

 

Yesterday i update my OS from Yosemite to El Capitan and now I am unable to burn an iDVD project.

 

iDVD opens and works as normal, the burn process starts and halfway through "Processing Images" i get the catherine wheel of death and the software freezes.

 

I have reset SMC and PRAM and deleted .plist and deleted encoded assets in iDVD.

 

I have a 2008 24" intel iMac also now running El Capitan and iDVD appears to be running as normal.

 

As my new iMac is my business machine I need to get this running again. Any suggestions?

 

Ray

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Oct 30, 2015 12:42 PM

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Q: iDVD no longer burns, El Capitan

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  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 2, 2015 5:01 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 5:01 AM in response to RayB615

    Bengt,

     

    I forgot to add that before your advice the final saved project was 401MB in size.

     

    Having taken all the steps you mentioned the new saved file is now 934MB despite the individual images being only a fraction of the size of the ones in the original project?????

     

    Ray

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 2, 2015 8:55 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 10 (141,552 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 2, 2015 8:55 AM in response to RayB615

    Log into another user account on you Mac and see if you can crate and save as disk image/burn an iDVD project.  This will tell us if the problem is system wide or limited to your user account.

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 2, 2015 9:02 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 9:02 AM in response to Old Toad

    Sorry, I should have mentioned this when you first asked but I don't have multiple accounts on this machine. It's just used for our wedding photography business and so it's just the one account,

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 2, 2015 9:14 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 10 (141,552 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 2, 2015 9:14 AM in response to RayB615

    Go to the System/Users & Groups preference pane and create a non-administrative user account.  It's a great troubleshooting tools since it will be pristine, i.e. no added enhancements like your account might have.  Doesn't take much space any all and you can use Fast User Switching if so desired.

  • by Bengt Wärleby,

    Bengt Wärleby Bengt Wärleby Nov 2, 2015 9:16 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 6 (19,450 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 9:16 AM in response to RayB615

    Hi

     

    reg Size - Have no idea why (but seen this too) - but to me is that it works most interesting. I ignore size if it doesn't matter.

     

    Accounts. - Every Mac since Mac OS X at least (most probably even earlier) can hold as many user-account as You like - to creat a new user to Your Mac is EASY and it is a very important tool in finding out what's gone avry - AND IN SOME CASES a process can remarcadly SPEED UP esp DVD authoring/burning (on my Mac at least)

     

    - You open System preferences (on old Mac OS X.6.8 - it is some rowes down under the Apple Menu

    Skrmavbild 2015-11-02 kl. 18.12.48.png

    And when it opens - select Accounts

     

    Then click on the PLUS sign

     

    I use to name my TEST and Password = TEST

    Easy to remember

    Easy to delete when used

     

    Now close the System Pref window

    Go up to the Apple Menu (still top left hand corner)

    then down to Log-Out

     

    Now log into the new User Account - TEST

    and see if iDVD works OK (with a new and very simple/small project)

     

    Yours Bengt W

  • by Bengt Wärleby,

    Bengt Wärleby Bengt Wärleby Nov 2, 2015 9:42 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby
    Level 6 (19,450 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 9:42 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

    BTW

     

    Free Space on start-up (Boot) Hard Disj. How MUCH ? - Other hard disks OF NO interest as they don't interfere at all.

     

    b. I only started to see this issue within 24 hours of the El Capitan OS update. I know all of above is good practice but surely the problem lies with someting in El Capitan. I can't help feeling that that is the issue

     

    MOST probably - But there is no sport in waiting to get it fixed. What I would do - is using an extra external hard disk with the old Mac OS and full iLife installed - the switch the iMac to start from this instead. So to finish in time.

     

    c. Use of iTune bought Music is a severe problem due to that You bought the music - it's only for You to use - Not copy or re-sell in any form - Hench they added DRM-Copyprotection and this can induce a lot of strange errors - most probably harm a project in prosess.

     

    So I only use audio I recorded and saved as .mp3 myself. Then I know that it doesn't contain harmfull code.

     

    I respect Copyright law - and do not inspire anyone to do anything else.

     

    Yours Bengt W

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 2, 2015 11:09 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 11:09 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

    Hi Bengt, Old Toad.

     

    Thanks for the continued support.

     

    I created a second User Account and went through the whole procedure again only for it to fail just as before.

     

    As for the audio I take your point entirely. For every wedding we shoot I buy the customers choice of song from iTunes AND then we buy an individual music licence that covers us for up to 30 minutes of music and up to 5 copies. However iTunes and iDVD would not know this so it is possible that since El Capitan iDVD does not like iTunes .AAC files.

     

    I have some pre-recorded CD's of my own so I will import them as .mp3 and try again.

     

    Before El Capitan I always just dragged the music straight into iDVD with no issues.

     

    I will keep you posted and thanks again.

     

    Ray

  • by Bengt Wärleby,

    Bengt Wärleby Bengt Wärleby Nov 2, 2015 11:14 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 6 (19,450 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 11:14 AM in response to RayB615

    Then You bought the right to use them

     

    I would open them in AudaCity (audio-editing program free on internet) and export them from here as .mp3 in a quality You accept - I prefere 192 or 256 bit.

     

    Good Luck !

     

    About free space on BOOT hard disk. HOW MUCH ?

     

    Yours Bengt W

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 2, 2015 12:56 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 12:56 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby

    Sorry to be a complete idiot but how do I check on free boot space?

     

    This Mac has a 1TB Fusion Drive and I think the OS boots from the virtual SSD part.

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 2, 2015 1:16 PM in response to RayB615
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 1:16 PM in response to RayB615

    Aargh, think I have worked it out!

     

    It is showing a virtual SSD capacity of 209.7MB and MAC OSX of 134.2MB so I guess that means there is about 75MB free?

     

    Is that important?

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 2, 2015 2:22 PM in response to RayB615
    Level 10 (141,552 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 2, 2015 2:22 PM in response to RayB615
    Is that important?

    It could be if the available free space was below 10 GB or so.  But it's not in this case.

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 3, 2015 12:12 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 12:12 AM in response to Old Toad

    Hi Old Toad, Bengt.

     

    I think this is a conspiracy by Apple to get me to buy Final Cut Pro!!!

     

    I have now done all that you asked above including Bengt's latest with the .mp3 files rather than .AAC straight from iTunes and still the same result. As soon as Processing starts the software freezes.

     

    I am going to visit my local Apple Store today.

     

    Can either of you recommend ANY reasonable replacement for iDVD? In particular the feature I most want is to be able to burn a dvd that contains individual chapters.

     

    Most of the stuff online does one long slideshow only AND it still wants you to use iDVD to do the final burning so no good on both fronts.

     

    Once again, I can't thank you both enough!

     

    Ray

  • by Bengt Wärleby,

    Bengt Wärleby Bengt Wärleby Nov 3, 2015 1:08 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 6 (19,450 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 1:08 AM in response to RayB615

    It is showing a virtual SSD capacity of 209.7MB and MAC OSX of 134.2MB so I guess that means there is about 75MB free?

     

    Hopefully You mean GB

     

    else it's way to low

     

    BUT 75 GB will be fine - I secure a minimum to 25 GB - BUT there is a BUT this is for 2 hours of Standard .dv Quality.

     

    If You use HD material (most people do these days) then You need 5 - 6 times more free space to run OK. Then the use of an extern Boot HD on say 2Tb will leave plenty of space - IF Mac OS AND iLife (iDVD) is run from this - neither can address any other hard disks for theirs .temp files (invisibly - but very space consuming) - it most probably will work OK esp. If You use the old Mac OS

     

    So that might be the problem - I guess.

     

    Yours Bengt W

  • by RayB615,

    RayB615 RayB615 Nov 3, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

    Hi Bengt,

     

    I am afraid this is where my computer knowledge really is very poor!!!

     

    I really did mean MB NOT GB in my last post

     

    I don't really understand what you mean by a "boot" and having enough space available or even how to make it available for the burning of my projects which are on average 500Mb to 1GB in size.

     

    So I hope you understand the deliberate joke (UK humour) if I said to you: "It's all Swedish to me!"

     

    I have copied the below from "About this Mac"

     

    APPLE SSD SD0128F:

     

      Capacity: 121.33 GB (12Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 15.40.06.pngScreen Shot 2015-11-03 at 15.41.49.pngIf there is something I am missing here and you have the time I could really do with some more advice as to how to do this and please don't feel you would offend me if it was in words of one sylabul as I really am not joking when I say this is beyond me. Thanks again. Ray

     

    Thanks

    If there is smooth

     

     

     

    And the following

     

    And

  • by itsKeef,

    itsKeef itsKeef Nov 17, 2015 7:55 AM in response to RayB615
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Nov 17, 2015 7:55 AM in response to RayB615

    Ray...and now the simple facts with a couple of tips thrown in as bonus feature. Well actually its another long read for you but, hey information is power.

     

    First the hardware, software at this end if its any help:

    A 21.5" Late 2013 3.1 Core i7 self pimped with SSD and 16GB

    Running El Capitan 10.1.11

    iDVD (v7.1.2) installed just fine from an old iWork 09 disc image. (iMac has no DVD drive)

    Photos as it now called cannot be accessed via the Media button. iTunes can?

     

    FYI

    UK PAL SD (standard definition) is 720x576px @25fps 4;3 ratio.

    iDVD as we know can be set up for that in the preferences.

    Please ignore any talk of 640x480 1024x576 etc etc. We are working in PAL, NTSC in fact comes in a number of odd frame sizes.

     

    It is very unlikely that your DVD will be played back on an old 4;3 CRT (tube tv) ...have any of your clients shown a preference for that? Doubt it.

    Your iDVD project, PAL, anamorphic, (16:9) widescreen, will be viewed on a HD flat screen tv. @ 1920x1080px. I mention anamorphic because, if by chance it does get viewed on an old 4;3 CRT, then it will be squished horizontally.


    Your slideshow images, irrespective of how they came out of the camera..into LR...out of LR ...will be processed by iDVD into a MPEG2 movie @720x576 px.

    That DVD video disc will play through a DVD player and be 'upscaled' to 1920x1080px. Yuk


    How do we know that?

    For the sake of this exercise lets use just 10 images to keep results coming fast.

    Also just for fun, bear with me on this, choose 10 landscape images.

    I am guessing your original camera files will be 3:2 ratio, most pro DSLRs do. Thats 35mm film.

    A pixel size, depending on your pro camera, around the 7360x4912px .

    Select all your images in your LR 'ten landscape collection' hit 'D' then 'R' select the 16:9 preset in the Crop and Straighten menu. Then hit Sync, do not click done. Now go through all the images to adjust that crop. I appreciate that this not ideal..but I did say this was just for fun.

    Now hit Done. Select all and hit shift/cmd/E .

    You now have your LR export window open.

    Image Format JPG - Limit File to 2000k - Long Edge 1920 - Resolution 150

    Export to your chosen folder.


    Open iDVD, create your slideshow project with the images from that folder. Forget the Slideshow scale to TV safe...TV safe only applies to old CRT's which overscan...flat screens do not.

    We wont burn at this point, why waste discs, 'Save as VIDEO_TS'  ..aha not Disc Image eh!

    Hit save and wait...at the appointed destination you find a folder with the name of your project, in that folder will be two folders, see screen shot:

    Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 14.29.55.png

    VTS_01_1.VOB will be the mpeg2 video file (_0.VOB is the menu) open _1.VOB with something like QT or mpegstreamclip.

    Hit cmd i and you will see the movie info:

    Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 14.36.12.png

    ...aha, your wonderful camera image is now down to 720x576px @...brace yourself 72dpi. Yep 72 dpi is what video is no matter SD HD or 4K its still only 72dpi. (I know dpi is a print term but for this exercise it will do just fine)


    You have a VIDEO_TS folder. (ignore AUDIO_TS its empty)..what can you do with this?

    Open DVD Player software and go to File -  Open DVD media... select the VIDEO_TS folder and play the DVD in software with no disc present.


    Or you can open Toast, select DVD-ROM (UDF) add just VIDEO_TS and burn. It will create a standard DVD video disc just as if you had burnt from iDVD.

    Drop that into DVD deck and play on TV...

     

    Want something better? something HD?  something to do your pictures justice?

    OK you will need the BluRay HD plugin for Toast for this next bit. Its BDMV folders we want.

    Find a free HD slide show app such as 4K SlideshowMaker, OK its basic but  for this exercise it will do. Stick with the HD for the moment, 4K comes latter,

    Drop you LR export images into the app, fettle the prefs,  photo duration and switch off Ken Burns then generate a movie, Mac OSX Standard /16:9/High

    Open the movie in QT or streamclip hit cmd i and bingo its now a 1920x1080 mp4 (h264) movie.

    Fire up Toast. Select the Blu-ray Video button, drop your movie into that.

    Again edit the settings mess with the Options...the menus are not that inspiring but hey. turn off auto play and continuous play, encoding if fine at auto for now.

    Save as Disc Image this time,

    Wait...

    Go to the finished disc image, name.toast - double click

    a folder opens and you are presented with :

    Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 15.16.02.png

    right click on the BDMV file and select Show Package Contents...see that folder STREAM this is where the HD movie is, a transport stream00001, you can open and check with Toast Video Player , QT etc to check the info.

     


    Screen Shot 2015-11-17 at 15.19.01.png


    dont move any files in the BDMV..you can copy the mts if you wish .

    Come back out of the package view and open Toast select DVD-ROM (UDF) add the BDMV and CERTIFICATE files and burn. It will create a standard DVD video disc just as if you had burnt from iDVD.

    ??? hang on but this is a BluRay 'project...oh yes you can burn a BluRay structure to a plain old 4.7GB DVD.

    As long as you don't go over the limit all the BluRay deck wants to see is the BMDV and CERT files, it does not matter what it is on.

    I have clients who use new generation smart tvs and play BluRay content from USB sticks. Even my 5 yr old LG BluRay deck has a USB port which will do the same thing.

    You can bypass the whole disc thing and drop the h264 movie file onto a USB if you want...now if you had exported from LR at 3840 long edge you can have a 4K movie, drop on stick and play thru a 4K screen. Now thats a thought.




     



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